Tobacco handling and stemming machine and method



JR., ET AL TOBACCO HANDLING AND STEMMING MACHINE AND METHD Y ocr. 23, 1928.

C. W1 GOOCH 4 Sheets-heet 1 Y Filed Aug. ll, 1925 @www S B`Y Mv NEY oct. 23, 19,28.` 1,689,171 A c. W. GQOCH, JR., ET AL lToHAcco HANDLING AND @TENA/11N@ MACHINE AND METHOD F1166 Aug. 11, 1925 4 sheets-sheet 2 lNvENToR C14/BORNE l1. 6006/1( z/- A PY @AM A/C Y ORNEY Oct. 23, 1928.

4 sheets-sheet 5 Filed Aug. ll, 1925 Octszs, 1928. 689,171

C. W. GOOCH, JR., ET AL TOBACCO HANDLING AND -STEMMING MACHINE AND METHOD FILecl Aug. 11, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Get.. 23,1928. k

l Unire str-s N regain ien.. n

CLAIBORNE Wl GOOCH', JR., AND ALEXiIlDER I'. l1lVl/`ERS,-OIEpLYIXT(HlBLTlR/Gr,l VIRGINIA,

ASSIGNORS TO TOBACCO STEMMING MACHINE COMPANY, 0F LYNCHBURG-i VIR- GINIA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TOBACCO HANDLING AND STEM MIN@ IVIACHINE AND METHOD.'

Application filed August" 1l, 19.25 VSerial No. 49,526.

Our invention relates to a novel method of stemmine' leaf tobacco which is of especial utility when it is desired to utilize a large part of the stem as well as all of the menibrane, and to mechanism for performing the method or process rapidlyT and economically; also to novel methods and means for handling or feeding leaf tobacco, including' a method and means for adjusting and forwarding a group. of leaves as a first step in the main process or a first part of the stemming' mechanism proper; and anadditional method and means for arranging and advancing the leaves to the initial feed mechanism of the main machine. The last named method and mechanism may be used in 'connection with the main machine7 or may be dispensed with as desired; and it also has features of novelty and utility which render it adaptable for other leaf arranging and feeding purposes.

The stemming method proper comprises, as briefly describe-d, advancing the leaf lengthwise and tip-foremost, applying suitable stripping instrumentalities at an intermediate longitudinal point well removed from the tip and usually substantially more than half the total length of the leaf from tip to butt and removing the membrane at both sides of the stem from that pointback to the butt7 and then severing the stem substantially at the stripping point or line just above referred to. Y By operating upon the leaf in this manner the forward part may be properly supported and positive gripping means may be applied to the leaf substantially at or just forward of the stripping lineTand the strip-ping,` instrumentalities may then act to remove all the membrane to the rear ofthe stripping line very cleanly from the heavy part of the stem and without any injury to the forward part of the leaf which retains the thinner part of the stein integra-l with the leafa for tilization along with` the forward part of f. the membrane in those classes of manufactured tobacco in which stein portions of moderate thickness are not objectionable. rlhe rear membrane portions which have been stripped from the stem are added to the forward portions consisting of the smaller section of stem with its integral membrane; and the heavy rear or butt portions of the stem which have been severed7 are handled separately and utilized in any desired way. ylhe invention also includes mechanism for cai:- lying` out this principal part of the method,v as sufficiently explained in detail hereafter.

Instead of *forwarding the leaves singly, a bunch of leaves is usually spread outlaterally in separatem' partly overlapped arrangement and forwarded at once. and the strip-pingr and stem cutting operations are performed simultaneously on this group. In connection with the main operations, the invention includes the method, as briefly des ribed, of spreading or arranging,r a group or hand of-leaves with their tips directed toward the main machine, and properly adjusting' all the leaves by alignment of the butt ends of the stems so that all the leaves are-properly positioned for gripping; stripping and stein cutting, and then forwarding the leaves as .so arranged to the supporting, gripping` and feeding means of the main machine. To carry out this initial or primary leaf arranging and feeding function, the invention also includes suitable'mechanism, as sufficiently described in detail hereafter.

The invention also includesa novel method lapped leavesor in substantially separated groups, each of which consists of separate or partially overlapped leaves, an."L forwarding` the leaves in such arrangement late rallyto a pointwhere they are delivered for preliminaryadjustment and longitudinal movement in the main process and machine. For this preliminary' arrangement and handling of the leavesa which may be referred to sometimes for convenience as an auxiliary method, since it may be employed or not. in accordance with 'operating conditions, the invention includes suitable mechanism, sufliciently described in detail hereafter. y

In comparison with present methods land machines, the invention provides the desired available output, that is to say, the portions of the whole leaf available for use as manufactured tobacco, including the forward portion of the leaf with the integral stem, identiiied, hereafter as the butted strip, and the rear' membrane portions stripped from the heavy part of the stem, hereafter identified as the machine strip7 while the severed stems or butts are very cleanly stripped with` only a small percentage of membrane adhering to be removed by thrashing, and this high percent of available output is produced more rapidly and with great economy in labor cost.

The accompanying drawings illustrate mechanism embodying the invention in one form, and also serve to explain an exemplifying performance of the process forming part of the invention. After considering these examples, skilled persons will understand that many variations may be made, both in the machine and method, and we contemplate the employment of any mechanism and processes that are properly within the scope of the appended claims.

Fig. 1 is a vertical, longitudinal section of one suitable mechanism for stemming or stripping tobacco, in accordance with our method as described above and hereafter, in-

cludinginitial leaf arranging and feeding means.

Flg. 21s a plan view 1n diagrammatic form of leaf supporting and feeding or conveying meanswith a leaf positioned therein j ust after delivery by the initial feeding means.

Fig. 2A is a vertical section of the same.

Figs. 3' and 3A, and 4 and 4A are similar plan and sectional views of the mechanism and leaf at successive subsequent steps of the series of operations.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the forward or feed end portion of the main machine with the auxiliary or preliminary leaf arranging and feeding mechanism associated therewith.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section at 6*6, Fig. 5.

Y Fig. 7 is a vertical section at 7-7, Fig. 5, of one suitable initial feed belt driving mechanism. 'v

Fig. 8 is a vertical section at 8 8, Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a sectional detail of the intermittent auxiliary feed belt driving mechanism.

The principal part of the machine is built vupon or around a frame consisting of longitudinal members 1, with suitable cross members (not particularly shown) and supporting legs 2. This frame supports co-operating upper and lower feed belts 3 and 4 which are driven continuously in the direction indicated by arrows. The lower stretch of the upper belt and the upper stretch of the lower belt run close together to support, grip and advance successive bunches or hands of leaves. Each belt consists of parallel chains 5 running on sprockets 6 secured on the forward shafts 7 and sprockets 8 secured on rear shafts 9. Each belt carries a series of spaced leaf supporting and gripping instrumentalities. Each of these instrumentalities includes a plurality of spaced parallel slats 10 and at the rear of the series of slats (with reference to the direct-ion of active feed movement as' indicated in Figs. 2, 2A and elsewhere) is a gripper bar 11 having a ribbed or serrated gripping face 12 and a curved or approximately arcuate upper or lower surface 13 leading to a thinrear edge 14. At the feed end of the machine (at the right in Fig. 1) as the belts converge aroundthe upper and lower sprockets 6, the leading slats lO of the successive upper and lower supporting and gripping instrumentaliti'es come 'together in vertically aligned relation and subsequently the corresponding members of the complete pair of supporting and gripping instrumentalities are vertically aligned and proceed as a unit, as clearly indicated' in Figs. 2, 2A, 8, 3^, 4 and 4A, to the rear end of the machine, where the belts and supporting and gripping instrumentalities travel around the rear sprockets 8, ands'o back to the feed end of the machine. The supporting and gripping units on each belt are spaced apart a substantial distance, these being calculated with reference to the required time for properly arranging and advancing the successive groups of leaves so that a group may be advanced at the proper time for reception by each supporting and gripping unit as its upper and lower sections .pass about the forward sprockets 6.

The length of the series of slats of one of the supporting and gripping instrumentalities and the associated gripper bar is calculated with reference to the distance from the point X of the leaf L, Fig. 1 (which is the point at which the stein is subsequently to be severed) and the tip T of substantially the longest leaves of the class of tobacco which is to be handled. The leaf part consisting of membrane and integral stem designated as C, forward of the point or transverse line X,called t-he buttcd strip, has a length dependent on the average thickness of the stem contained in that part; that is to say,

it is usually desired to make the' butted strip as long as possible without including in it very thick stem portions. Therefore the cutting point or line X to the rear of which the leaf membrane sections D, hereafter designated as machine strip, are to be removed, is located as far from the tip T as possible. The relative dimensions in Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are fairly representative of average operating conditions. The butted strip C is somewhat more than two-thirds, or nearly three-fourths the total length of the leaf, while the machine strip portions (Z and the stem butts s, hereafter called the machine stem, since it is severed by machine operations, are, correspondingly, somewhat less than onethird or approximately one-fourth the total length of the leaf. As the leaf is advanced between the advancing belt stretches., the tip portion is lightly held and supported, and fed along by the forward upper and lower slats 10, and successive pairs of slats lightly grip, support and advance successive portions of the leaf part c, and finally a substantial lat eral Zone of the leaf is firmly gripped be tween ribbed faces 12 of the upper and lower gripper bars l1, whose rear edges lll now de- :[lne substantially the severing line X, Fig. 2.

' The forward part or section@ of the leaf is thus supported in smooth, flat, horizontal posit-ion and when delivered the delivery end oit' the belts may be maintained in such position for convenient straight advance or for piling in flat condition for convenient trancfer to a tobacco working machine, sueh'as one which requires the leaves including integral stem portions to be. cut at right angles to their length. in order that the stein portions retained for use shall be thin cross-sectional slices and not relatively long` slivers, which would be produced by cutting the stems diagonally vor approximately lengthwise. The entire rear part of the leaf, back of the line X is free for subsequent action of the stripping and stem cuttinginstrumentalities. At a point located to allow proper travel of one supporting and feeding instrumentality, are upper and 'lower stripping rolls 2O and 2l having the usual stripping wires. rlhese rolls are driven in any known or suitable way, in the direction of the arrows, and they are carried on pivoted arms 22, 28, respectively, connected to move together in an` suitable way, for example,.by gear sectors :24. One set of supporting arms, such as 23, yarried by the pivot shaft 25, co-operate with another arm 26, which has a cani follower 2? running in a track 28 on a cam body 29, which is driven in any convenient way in such relation to the belt travel that the cam, makes one turn for the passage of each set of supporting and gripping instrumentalities lO-ll. The cam track is so contoured 'that as each forward pair of slats l0 approaches the stripping rolls 2O and 2l, the latter are retracted upward and downward respectively, permitting` the slats and the gripper bars to pass, carrying the forward partof the leaf between the rolls. The cam track then acts tev move the rolls quickly downward as the thick for- Award parts of the gripper bars pass between them, and as the thin rear edges l/l of the bars pass the vertical plane of the stripper axes, the strippingblades bite quickly down into the leaf membrane, substantially at the line X, and strip the machine strip portions f7 Afrom the stem as the leaf continues to advance. Preferably, the rolls are brought relatively close together when their blades first bite into the leaf to insure proper severing along the line X and then as the leaf advances the rolls are retracted somewhat to reduce the stripping pull and avoid stem breakage, but are kept close enough together to provide the proper clean stripping` of the stem. The machine strip portions (Z are collected in any suitable way, for instance by permitting them to fall into a hopper The cain channel now causes the rolls to be retracted and so held until their nent action.

At a convenient distance beyond the stripping rolls, upper and lower cutter blades 35 Vand 36 are carried by pivoted arms 37 andi/i8 respectively. rlhese arms are operated simultaneously, for instance, by the pin and jaw connection l0 and by an arm ll operabetween the cutter blades, they are retracted upward and downward respectively, and then as the rear edgeslll of the gripper bars pass, -i

the blades are brought quickly together by vthe action of cani la and the stein is cnt at the point X, the-severed portions or machine stems s falling into a hopper 50, The butted strips c are then delivered at the left as the belts separate may be collected in a hopper 55 or kept in straight and flat condition.l for reaf ns indicated above, y delivcu'ig them upon a table or carry-olf belt.V i

fis above stated, the Vdri-ving connections may vary greatly. Any convenient shaftA such as camA shaft 45, may be theinitial driving member of the mechanism, and the belts may driven by gear or sprocket connections between their shafts i' or 9 and by gear or sprocket connection from any of the belt shaft, such asv lower shaft 9, to the cani shaft 45. The shaft of cani may be driven by a chain from cam shaftd.

Any convenient table may be located at the right in Fig. l, forthe convenience of the operator in layingV out a bunch of leaves, and for pushing them between the feed belts forward upper and lower slats l0 converge in the vertical plane of shafts 7. The bunch ofleaves to be laid out for feeding at one time may consist of one or more ha* de of leaves, and the leaves may be fully spread so that they are substantially separate, or

so that in seine cases only the in'en'ibraneous portions of adjacent leaves are overlapped, or otherwise, the leaves may be very considerably overlapped. The machine will opcrate satisfactorily even when several leaves (two, three or even more) are substantially superposed or with the stems lying very nearly ontop of each other. The spread of the leaves may evidently, therefore, be varied in accordance with the nature. of the leaf and operating conditions. y l

lt is preferred to provide initialfeed meehanisin which is at least partly automatic in operation, to facilitate the arrangen'ient of the groups of leaves, to reduce-the time required forl such arrangement, or at least to so facilitate the arrangement of the leaves so that the machine may be operated at .f satisfactorily high rate of speed, and particularly to automatically adjust the leaves in ways and for reasons explained below.

ilu

J ir.

if" 3 and 4.

5" criminate longitudinal positions.

ported on forward and rear pulleys Gl. and G2. It is natu 'al to refer to the feed end of the machine (at the right inFig. 1) as the front of the machine. The leaves are, of course, advanced toward therear or discharge end of the machine and while the movement of the leaves is naturally considered a forward movement in one sense, this direction of leaf movement should not be confused with sta ments of position with regard to the machine. If necessary, the upper stretch ofthebeltmay be supported on a shelf. Toward the front i end of the feed belt, usually substantially above the forward pulley 61, is a vertical stop rail or abutment 63, which may, if desired, be supported in any convenient way for adjustment toward or from the main feed belts A group of leaves is spread out laterally on the upper stretch of belt 6i) with the tips directed toward the main feed belts and the butt ends of the stems pointing toward the stop rail 63 in more or less indis- After one of the main supporting and feeding units 10-11 has passed forward between the adj acent stretches of the main feed belts, the bunch of leaves is arranged, in any of the Aways above stated, on belt 60, and the upper stretch of the belt is then moved reversely or toward the right in Fig. 1, bringing the butt kends of all lthe stems against the stop rail (53 and aligning these stems. The tips z5 of different leaves are then in different longitudinal ,positions depending on the lengths of the respective leaves. The belt is then moved forward (or in the normal feed direction) at the proper time, its movement being calculated so that the tips of the longest leaves are brought into the vertical plane of shafts 7, as the forward slats 10 of the next approaching supporting and feeding unit converge to grip and advance the leaves. Desirably, the belt 60 is driven in the feed direction at a rate substantially faster than the linear speed of the main feed belt. In this way, the shorter leaves are advanced farther with relation to travel of the main Abelts than the long leaves, and are in turn gripped by successive pairs of slats. There is thus provided an automatic leaf adjustment substantially proportional to the leaf length, so that all of the leaves are'gripped by the gripper bars 11, in such a position that the line X for each leaf'is automatically positioned for the machine stripping of the correct portional part of its membrane d.

Various mechanism may be provided for driving the initial feed belt 60 in the manner described. One preferred mechanism is illustrated in Figs. 1, 7 and 8. A longitudinal shaft is driven in any convenient way from another shaftsuch as shaft 45, if that is the initial drive shaft of the machine, and by spiral gears 7l and 72, 'drives a transverse shaft 73. The totalr ratio of the gearing from the initial driving point to shaft 73 is such that shaft 7 makes one turn in each cycle of the machine, that is, one turn for the travel of each feed unit 10 11 pz a given point. Parallel to shaft 73 is a shaft 75 and this is connected by sprockets 7G, 77, and a chain 73 to the shaft 79 of forward belt pulley 6l.

Adjacent gear 72 another gear 30 is revolubly mounted on tl e shaft and engages a. pinion 81 secured on shaft 75 for driving the latter in one direction. Some distance from gear 8O a sprocket 32 is revolubly mounted on shaft 73, and is connected by a chain 83 to a sprocket 8d iixed on shaft 75 for driving the latter in the opposite direction.

A circular ratchet 86 is secured to gear 8O and a similar ratchet. 87 is secured to sprocket 82. Between the ratchets, pawl arms 88 and S9 are arranged with their hubs secured together and keyed to shaft 73.

Cams 9() and 91 are secured to a holder 92., the hub of which lits revolubly on the hubs of the arms 88 and 39.v The holder has an arm 93, Fig. 7, secured to a stationary point such as a part of gear box (not shown) in which this gearing may be enclosed. The cams may be adjusted rotatably upon the holder 92 and then secured to it and are held stationary by arm 93. lawl arm 88 has at its outer end a pivotally mounted pawl 95 to co-operate with the teeth of the vcircular ratchet 8G and also has a cam follower arm 9e', the rounded end of which runs on the periphery of cam 90. rPhe pawl and follower are urged to active position by springs 97 and are connected by means of the pivotV pin 93. .Pawl arm 89 carries similar mechanism including pawl 100 to co-operate with ratchet 87, cam follower 101 to co-operate with cam 91, and springs 102.

Shaft 73 is continuously driven, clockwise', as viewed in Fig. 7. Cam 91 is contoured so that at the proper time for a rearward (stem end adjustment) movement of feed belt 60, cam follower 101 which iscarried by its arm 89 along with shaft 73 strikes a drop on the cam face. Movement of the follower permits pawl 100 to engage its ratchet 87 and sprocket 82 is thus 'driven along with the shaft and by chain connection to sprocket 84, shaft 7 5 is also driven clockwise. This motion is transmitted by a belt 73 to the rear pulley G1 of feed belt 60, andA the belt is moved backward orto the right in Fig. 1 to adjust the stem ends as previously described. Toward the end of the necessary feed belt movement', follower 101 strikes i rise` on. the cam face and pulls pawl 100 away from the ratchet, thus breaking the 'driving connection between shaft- 7 3 and sprocket 80, and belt 60 stops. Immediately thereafter cam vfollower 96 moving with shaft 7 3 strikes a drop in the face of cam 90 and pawl 95 y is thus engaged with ratchet 86, coupling gear 80 to shaft 73. The pinion 81 on shaftr is thus driven counter-clockwise as viewed in Figs. 1 and and belt 60 is driven forward to feed the leaves as previously described.

The gear ratios and other parts are so 'designed that preferably 4belt 60 travels in the feeding direction much faster than the inear speed of the main feed belts 3 and 4. @ne desired ratio is approximately This ratio may be varied greatly, but has been found in, one practical en'ibodiment of the invention to give the desired adjusting eifect for long and short leaves. The reverse inotion speed of the belt is desirably, (although not necessarily) higher than that of the main belts. When the reverse motion is speeded up, considerable time is saved. One'desirable speed ratio (which may be greatly v aried) as between the feed belt 60 and the main belts 3 and 4 may be approximately 2.64. The total saving of time byrapid driving of the feed belt in both directions, is such that these movements backward and forward require only a small part of the total time of one cycle, and the operator, when hand labor is employed for placing the leaves on the feed belt, therefore has more time for the proper placing and spreading of the leaves.

While the machine may be operated satisfactorily with hand labor for the placing of leaves on the primary feed belt, 'the machine may be speeded up substantially and labor cost may be saved by providing auxiliary or r preliminary feeding mechanisms for supplying the leaves as rapidly as may be desired to the initial feed belt 6G. For this purpose an auxiliary belt 200 is arranged to run at a right angle to belt 60. This belt is supported by various pulleys on any suitable frame including side members 261, cross members 262, and legs (not shown). The rear belt pulley 205 is carried by a shaft 206 mounted in fixed bearings and the shaft carries a circular ratchet 207 engaged by a pawl 208 mounted on a fixed frame member to prevent reverse motion ofthe pulley, which moves intermittently when the belt is moved, as hereafter explained, in the direction of the arrow. A carriage 210 is provided with rollers 211, running in ways 212 the frame side members 201. This carriage has arms 213 provided with bearings for a shaft 214 on which a forward belt pulley 215 is mountF ed. The upper stretcii of the belt passes around pulley 215 and back horizontally, and then around an idler pulley 216, mounted in fixed bearings in the frame. This pulley or its shaft has a circular ratchet 212i7 engaged byr a pawl 218 to prevent Areverse motion of the pulley and the belt at that point. The belt then passes down and around an idler 221 mounted on arms 222 which are pivoted at on fixed frame brackets 224. From pulleys 221 the belt goes around another fixed idler 225 and then around another fixed idler 226 mounted in the brackets 224, and so up and around rear pulley 205, completing the belt circuit. to maintain a variable slack in the belt including the belt stretches 230 and 231.

The carriage is moved Vt-o and fro by any suitable means, represented in one preferred form by a crank 246 on a vertical shaft 241, which extends from the top of a gear box 242 mounted below the belt and carriage. Shaft 241 is intermittently driven by any suitable connection to the main machine. This connect-ion is represented in the present instance by a bevel gear 243 on the shaft engaged by a pinion 244 on a horizontal shaft 245, sprockets and a chain 246, a countershaft 247, sprockets and a chain 248,'from any suitable rotary part of the main machine, for example, sha t 78. The pinion 244 is secured to a hub 244a which is rotatably mounted on the shaft 245. This hub also carries a circular flange 244b having a plurality of notches 244C. In the present instance, for a ,certain set of driving ratios there are three of these notches. Adjacent the circular flange or disc 244b another circular flange or disc 244C1 is keyed to the shaft. This disc carries a pivoted pawl 244e, the toe of which is adapted to engage the notches 244c or lto ride between them over the circular periphery of disc 244i). The pawl is urged to engagement by a spring 244i. AIt has a projecting lug or dog 244g adapted to cooperate with a pin 244h fixed in a side wall' of the gea-r box.

The described arrangement provides for an advance Amovement. of the auxiliary feed belt (toward the right, in Fig. 6) to deliver one group of leaves to theA primary feed belt 60 while the latter is stationary, 'and for a dwell while belt 60 moves first in reverse direction and then forward to feed t-he leaves; and for return movement of belt 200 (to the left in Fig. 6) durino the next rest period of belt 60 to place another group of leaves thereon, and for a dwell of belt 20() while belt 60 performs its next adjusting and feeding movements, and so on; or in other words, according to the present specific arrangement, belt 200 alternately advances and retreats in its leaf delivering operations. When shaft 245 is driven, as in the present specific arrangement, synchronously with the main machine, or in other words, when it makes one turn for each feedvcycle of belt- 60, pinion 244 is three-quarters the diameter of gear 243; or specifically, if pinion 244 has eighteen teeth, gear 243 will have twenty-four teeth. Disc 244d driven continuously by shaft 245, causes pawl 244c with its toe in one of the notches 244C to drive disc 244b and the con-y nected pinion 244 along with the shaft during Y two-thirds of one shaft rotation. Through crank 240 and pitman 250 the carriage 210 is advanced (toward the right in Themovable idler 221 serves Fig. 6) until just before crank 240 reaches one of its dead center positions, dog 244g of the pawl strikes the fixed pin 244h and withdraws the pawl from the notch. Pinion 244, gear 248 with its shaft 241, crank 240, pitman 250, and the carriage thenv stop, with pulley 215 and the forward part of the belt projected over belt 60, as shown in Fig. 6. The carriage with the projected belt portion then remains stationary during the remaining one-third rotationof shaft 245 while belt performs its leaf adjusting and feeding movements. At this time disc 244d has turned far enough to carry dog 244g away from pin 244k; the pawl while the belt was stationary has ridden over the peripheral segment of disc 2441 and now drops into the next notch 244C. Atthis point one cycle of the auxiliary belt driving mechanism is ccmpleted. The belt is then driven in thereverse direction (to the left in F 6) and at the end of this reverse or retreating movement the intermittent driving mechanism rovides another dwell equivalent to onethird of the total cycle of belt 200, and so on.

While .belt 200 is driven by positive engaging members, namely, the pawl 244e and the notched disc 2441), there is relatively little shock and strain on these parts because whenever the pawl engages a disc notch to drive the belt, the belt and its carriage are at rest, and the crank 240 and pitman 250 in dead center position, so that at first the pawl has only the relatively light duty of starting crank 240 and the pitman, with practically no load thereon, and then the carriage is gradually started and rapidly accelerated in either direction by the changing angularity of crank 240, and is then brought gradually to rest at the end of its stroke.

One or more operators place tobacco leaves on belt 200, either while it is moving or stationary; but rests of the belt provide additional time and facility for the operator to properly adjust the leaves without annoy- .ance by belt movement. The leaves are arranged transversely of the belt corresponding to their desired longitudinal arrangement on the initial feed belt 60, as sufiiciently indicated in Fig. 5, and the precise arrangement for feeding in the main machine as above described. That is` the leaves may be in the form of a substantially continuous series without overlap or more or less overlapped. Otherwise,if difficulty is experienced in separating successive sets or groups of leaves as they are delivered from the auxiliary belt 200 to the initial feed belt 60, the leaves may be arranged on belt 200 in substantially separated series or groups. For this purpose suitable index marks, such as 300, may be placed on one of the frame side members 201 to indicate the proper spacing of the leaf groups.

When the delivery portion of belt 200 advances (toward the right in Fig. 6) the lower stretches of the belt are prevented from moving reversely by pawl 218 engaging ratchet 217 of pulley 216. rlChe upper or active stretch of the belt therefore moves forward in the direction of the arrow at double the speed of carriage advance, and this movement is permitted by pawl 208 running idly over the teeth of ratchet 207 .as pulley 205 rotates in the direction of the arrow. During this movement some of the slack in belt stretches 230 and 231 is taken up with accompanying rise of movable idler pulley 221. As the belt moves forward a. group, .or a portion of the continuous series of Vleaves adjacent pulley 215 is moved forward and deposited in reversed position on belt 60. l/Vhen carriage 210 and belt 200 come to rest this bunch or group of leaves is adjusted and fed forward by belt 60. Then, while belt 60 is again at rest, carriage 210, with the projected portion of' belt 200, retreats (toward the left in Fig. 6). During this movement the upper stretch of belt 200 is held stationary by pawl 208 engaging ratchet 207, ybut the lower stretches of the belt are moved in the direction of the arrow by the weighed idler 221 which takes up the belt slack and also causes the stretch of the belt between pulleys 216 and 215 to be pulled around pulley 215, as the latter retreats. In this way Y another group or portion of a layer of leaves on belt 200 is dropped off (without reversal -of position) upon belt 60; and so on.

rlhe driving arrangement of belt 200 in what may be called half-time relation to the cycle of the main machine, with deposition of leaves on the initial feed belt 60 at each forward and retreating movement, provides substantially for only one-half the total movement of belt 200 that would otherwise be necessary; otherwise, however, the belt can evidently be made to move forward once for cach cycle of the main machine and by slight changes in construction or arrangement of the belt operating mechanism can be made to deposit a group of leaves ateach movement, in one direction (either as it is advancing or retreating) Evidently the frame of the auxiliary feed mechanism may be extended to any desired extent so that the upper stretch of the belt may be made as long as is necessary to permit the required number of operators to properly handle the hands of tobacco and spread them properly upon the belt. These requirements will vary with the desired speed of operation and for other reasons. f

l/Ve claim z- 1. A tobacco stemming machine comprising main belts arranged with parallel stretches, a spaced series of leaf supporting and gripping instrumentalities on each belt, each instrumentality being arranged to cooperate with one on the other belt, means for 'lll ull

insicuri' advancing a group of leaves tip lirst and introducing forward portions of the leaves between converging supporting and gripping instrui'nentalities at the feed end of the feed belts, stripping instrumentalities arranged to engage rearward projecting portions of the leaves and stripr the membrane from each side of the 'tems from approximately the gripping line to the buts, and subsequenth7 acting means for severing` the projecting stem portions,

2. A tobacco stemming machine comprising main belts arranged With'parallel stretches, a spaced series of leaf supporting and gripping instrumei'italities on each belt, each instrumentality being ar'aiiged to co-opei'ate 1with one on the other belt, means for supporting a plurality of leaves in partly overlapped relation, means for aligningthe butt ends of the stems, n'ieans for then' advancing the group of leaves tip lirst and introducing them between converging supporting and grippi' instrumentalities at the feed end of the feed belts, stripping instruinentalities arranged to engage rearward projecting portions of the leaves and strip the membrane from each side ot the stems from approximately the gripping line to the butts, and subsequently acting means for severing the projecting stein portions.

3. Tobacco stemming` mechanism comprisco-operaing continuous feed belts, leaf supporting and gripping' means on each belt positioned to come together to receive, supf port and grip the forward part of a leaf and advance it tip iirst with the rear part accessible, co-operating strippers, means for moving' them to contact with the leaf at the rear of the gripping means and strip the leaf inembrane from the leaf and each side of the stein, subsequentlj,7 acting means f severing the projecting' stem portion, an initial. feed belt,

anc means for moving it intermittently to advance successive groups of leaves to the main feed belts.

Il. Tobacco stemming mechanism comprising cri-operating continuous feed belts, leaf supporting and gripping means on e. ch belt positioned to come together to receive, support and grip the forward part of a leaf and advance it tip first with the rear part accessible, co-operating strippers, means for moving them to contact *ith the leaf at the rear ofthe gripping means and strip the leaf membrane from the leaf and each side ofthe stem, subsequently acting means for severing the projecting stem portion, an initial feed belt to receive successive groups of leaves, a stein adjusting abutment adjacent the belt, and means for moving the be t to adjust the stoms and then to feed the leaves to the supportand gripping instiunientalities of the mein feed belts.

5. rlobacco stemming mechanism comprising co-opereting continuous feed belts, leaf supporting @ripping means on each belt adj the stems against the abutment and then the oppo.-`l ie direction to feed the leave L'ic supporting and gripping instrus to L- inentalities of the main feedbelts, the last diivii means being arranged to move the initial feed belt at substantially higher speed than the main belts, so that the initial feed beit and the supporting and gripping instrunicntalities of the main belts co-operate to adjust different leaves of a group longitudinally, approximately in accordance with their relative lengths 1 G. Tobacco stemming mechanism comprising cooperating contini'ious feed belts, leaf supporting and gripping inea-ns on each belt positioned to come together to receive, support and 'n the for' I'ard part of a leaf and advance it tip first with the rear part accessibleco-operating strippers, means for moving them to contact with the leaf at the rear of the gripping meansand strip the leaf incinbra'ne from the leaf and each side of the stein, subsequently acting means for severing the progecting sten portion, an initial feedbelt, means tor moving it. interinittentlr f toad-Vance supc-essive groups of leaves to the main feed belts, and preliininarj,T feed. belt arranged to move substantially a right angle to the movement of the initial feed belt and to support a series of leaves and deliver groups of.

leaves to the initial feed belt. 7. Tobacco stemininc' mechanism comprising cooperating continuous feed belts, leaf supporting and gripping means on each belt positioned to come together to receive, support and grip th for vad part of a. leaf and advance it tip iii-st with the rear part accessible, feo-operating s rippers, means` for moving them to contact with the leaf at the rear of the griiiiping means and strip the leaf niembrane from the leaf and each side ofthe stem, siii; sequcntly acting means for severing the projecting stein portion, an initial feed belt,

means for moving it interinittentlv to advance successive groups of leaves to the main belts, a preliminai'7 feed belt arranged to move substantially at a rig-ht angle to the movement of the initial feed belt and to support a series of leaves and d liver groups of leaves to the initial feed belt. and means for moving the preliminary feed belt inte 1mittently. i

8. Tobacco stemming mechanism comprising co-operating continuous feed belts, leaf supporting and gripping means on each belt positioned to come together to receive, support and grip the forward part of a leaf and advance it tip first with the rear part accessible, co-operating strippers, means for movin them to contact with the leaf at the rear of the gripping means and strip the leaf membrane from `the leaf and each side of the stem, subsequently acting means for severing the projecting stemiportion, an initial feed belt, means for moving it intermittently to advance successive groups of leaves to the main feed belts, a preliminary feed belt arranged to move stantially at a right angle to the movement of the initial feed belt and to. support a series of partly overlapped leaves and deliver grou s of leaves to the initial feed belt, and means rer moving a part of the preliminary feed belt iiii termittently over and away from the initial feed belt.

9. Preliminary or auxiliary feed mechanism for handling' leaf tobacco, comprising a continuous belt, a fixed supporting pulley, a movable supporting pulley, means for moving the movable pulley intermittently'to and fro to extend and retract one end of the belt for delivery purposes, and means for maintaining available slack in an idle part of the belt.

10. Preliminary or` auxiliary feed mechanism for handling leaf tobacco, comprising a continuous belt, a fixed supporting' pulley, a movable supporting pulley, means for moving the movable pulley intermittently to and fro to extend and retract one end of the belt for delivery purposes, means for Ymaintaining available slack in an idle part of the belt, and means preventing the reverse travel of the active stretch of the belt.

l11. Preliminary or auxiliary feed mechanism for handling leaf tobacco, comprising a continuous belt, a fixed supporting pulley, a reciprocable carriage, a belt pulley thereon, means for reciprocating the carriage to project and retract a portion of tl e belt for delivery purposes, means preventing reverse travel of th-e active stretch of the belt and permitting forward travel, and means for maintainingl variable slack in an idle part of the belt.

12. Preliminary feed mechanism for a stripping machine of the class described which includes an initial feed belt, said mechanisn'i comprising a belt arranged to receive a series of tobacco leaves, and means for movingl theY active stretch of the belt intermittently over and away from said initial feed belt of the main machine.

13. Preliminary feed mechanism for stripping machine of the class described which includes an initial feed belt, said mechanism comprising a feed belt, means for moving a portion of the belt intermittently to and fro in relation to said initial feed belt of the main machine, and means for simultaneously moving the active stretch ofthe feed belt in an advancing direction to deliver leaves carried by it to said initial feed belt of the main machine.

la. A tobacco leaf strip or stemming machine devised for the retention of a large part of the stem from the leaf tip rearward along with the corresponding leaf membrane, for utilization with rearward portions of the membrane removed from the stem, comprising main feeding means arranged to grasp one or more leaves transversely on lines somewhat rearward of the leaf-mid-lengt-h, means for operating said main feed means to advance the vleaf or leaves longitudinally in a direction parallel to their stems and tip first, stripping means arranged to engage the leaves and sever and strip the rearward'parts of the membrane substantially from the y'asping line to the butt ends, and means acting thereafter to sever the projecting stems substantially at the grasping line.

l5. A tobacco leaf strip or stemming machine device for the retention of a large part of the stem from the leaf tip rearward along with the corresponding leaf membrane, for utilization with rearward portions of the membrane removed from the stem, comprising main feeding means arranged to grasp one or more leaves transversely on lines somewhat rearward of the leaf-mid-length, means for operating said main feed means to advance the leaf or leaves longitudinally in a direction parallel to their stems and tip first, stripping means arranged to engage the leaves and sever andstrip the rearward parts of the membrane substantially from the grasping line to the butt ends, means acting thereafter to sever the projecting stems substantially at the grasping line, and initial feed means providing` facility for arranging leaves for advance to the main feed means longitudinally and tip first, said initial feed means being operated tov advance the leaves faster than the rate of movement of the main feed means, so that the gripping line for each leaf is regulated substantially in accordance with leaf length. j

1G. A tobacco stemming machine comprising feed belts having adjacent parallel stretches and transverse grippers thereon arranged to converge at the feed end of the belts and grip between them a tobacco leaf near its mid-length and convey the leaf tipfirst longitudinally through the machine, complemental stripper rolls arranged at opposite sides of the adjacent belt stretches, and means for moving the rolls divergently to permit passage of the grippers, and convergently to engage the leaf close behind the grippers and strip from the stem the membrane portions back of the grippers, and subsequently acting cutting means to sever the portion of the stem extending behind the grippers.

17. A method of stemming tobacco comprising gripping a leaf transversely near its mid-length, advancing it tip first in the direction of its stem, applying stripping instrumentalities to the membrane close to the gripping line and stripping from the stem the portions of the membrane back of the gripping line, and then severing the stem substantially at the gripping line.

1S. The method of stemming tobacco, which vconsists in stripping the laminatoward the butt from a selected line transverse to the leaf and nearer the butt than the tip, whereby to leave the major portion of the lamina intact, and severing the stripped portion of the stein from the remainder.

19. The method of stemming tobacco, which consists in moving leaves lengthwise and tip first past stripping mechanism ar-y ranged to engage the leaf throughout its Width and to strip rearwardly toward the butt, While shielding all of the lamina. in front of a selected line transverse to the leaf behind which the stripping devices operate, and severing the stripped portion of the stem from the remainder, thereby to retain the maj or portion of the lamina intact.

20. The method of stemming tobacco, which consists in grasping the leaf thro-ughout its Width on a line transverse to the leaf nea-rer the butt than the tip, moving the leaf so held, lengthwise and tip first past stripping devices arranged to strip toward the butt, While shielding the portion of the lamina in front of the line on which the leaf is grasped, and afterwards severing the stripped portion of the stem from the remainder.

Signed at Lynchburg, in the county of Campbell and State of Virginia, this 3rd day of August, A. D. 1925.

CLAIBORNE WV. GOOCH, JR.

ALEXANDER LEE EWERS. 

